An excerpt from the book, “Some Gave All,” available on Amazon
By Mike Simmons
End of Watch Saturday, June 17, 2017
The Mississippi River, or “The Mighty Mississippi” as it is called, is the most striking river in the United States. It meanders its way from Lake Itasca, Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, south of New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Mississippi is at its widest as it flows past Memphis, Tennessee. If a person stands on the bluff in Memphis overlooking the mighty river, it is easy to imagine the flat-bottomed river boats, the huge paddlewheels, Huck Finn and western expansion, and be proud of our American heritage. That is the view from Memphis.
On April 18, 1954, Joe Heddy, Jr. was born in Memphis. His family had been there for many years – his father was a longtime Memphis firefighter.
Joe Heddy, Jr. was born in Memphis, Tennessee on April 18, 1954. He grew up there next to the river. Jill Stark lived close by and was in Joe’s class. But they didn’t have much in common. She was a good girl and he often got into trouble. At Overton High School, the differences in their lifestyles became even more evident. “He was a hood,” Jill recalled in an interview with the author on April 22, 2023. Jill stayed far away, not wanting to be influenced by him.
But there was something about the “hood” image that was not Joe Jr. He had a good heart – always. His escapades were mostly harmless things…putting cherry bombs in mailboxes-type stuff. Also, he was funny, and people loved to be around him because he made them feel good.
As Joe Jr. came close to the end of his high school career, He decided that the military was the best choice for him…or rather his father did. So, at 17, he joined the United States Army. Within a few years, he had been ordered to Fort Gordon, Georgia, and then to Korea. When he came back, he found himself serving at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, serving with the legendary 101st Airborne Division. He was also only three hours from his boyhood home.
In 1974, Joe attended a party of some high school friends in Memphis. Something had happened. The immature wild teenager who left home for the Army had transitioned into a handsome soldier who turned girls’ heads wherever he went. In addition, his comfortable humor made him a favorite. There was never a dull moment when Joe was around.
Jill Stark was invited to the same party. “I saw him, in uniform, talking on the phone,” she remembered. He was different – grown up. She was struck. The next year, the two married – much to the disappointment of Jill’s parents, who still viewed Joe as a hood.
After a honeymoon to Biloxi, Mississippi, the young couple got orders for Frankfort, Germany. Joe was working in a secret section doing secret stuff that he couldn’t talk about. They soon returned to Fort Campbell for a while, and then were able to return to their hometown of Memphis where Joe became a recruiter. By this time, Jill had given birth to a girl, Joy, and twin boys, Jason and Jeffrey.
When the kids started school, Joe and Jill began looking at better school districts. An opening in the Federal Bureau of Prisons had an opening in Pensacola, Florida. After some homework, Joe, Jill, Joy, Jeffrey, and Jason moved to Pensacola, where Joe continued to serve in the Federal Bureau of Prisons at Saufley Field in Millview[1]. The family quickly fell in love with the town, and Joe loved his job. But in 1989, he decided to call it quits. He had two retirement checks coming to the house, so he could finally relax.
Nope. It was only a while before Jill got tired of him teaching her how to keep house. She had been keeping a house for the family since 1975, and she told him to go find a job! He found one – in county corrections.
Right from the beginning he felt at home. But…there was something different. He was older now and didn’t feel as threatened. He often found himself counseling inmates like a dad would to a son. He told Jill one time, “There are no bad inmates, just inmates that have done bad things.” Wise words.
The older he got, the more important his easy-going manner of talking to inmates and his funny sense of humor worked in his favor. He rarely had to fight – he relied on his ability to talk and his wits.
The Escambia County Jail, often referred to as “Castle Grayskull,” is in the middle of the urban part of the county. That is where most of the 300+ officers are assigned. Soon, however, Joe was recruited to work at the Road Prison, found further north, where the population is less crowded. Locals know the place as “Camp 5,” an old name that had stuck for many years. The inmates assigned here work on road crews all day. At night, they are tired; hence little trouble. It is considered a feather in your cap if you are an officer and are asked to work there. Most are not allowed.
Joe liked his new position. For the most part, the inmates were agreeable, none having to spend more than a year there. The one thing they didn’t want to do was to mess up and be sent to the state prison!
However, you can never really tell what is going on in the mind of a prisoner. Some prisoners become so distraught that they try to escape when they have less than a week left of their sentence!
On June 17, 2017, Jill was up, and cooking breakfast. Joe came in, ready to leave, and commented on how good the bacon smelled. Then he kissed her and walked out the door. She would never see him alive again.
Joe called her at least once a day. She got her call at 10:30 that morning. Everything was well. He would see her this evening. He hung up.
At 1:00 PM, she got a call from the prison. They told her that Joe had collapsed and had been rushed to West Florida Hospital. Within a few minutes, Jill’s son Jeffrey was rushing the two of them to the hospital’s emergency room on north Davis Highway. When they arrived, eager to see Joe, they were instead led into a small room without windows but furnished with a supply of tissues. Not good, they told each other.
They prepared for the worst, and they got it after a few minutes. Joe had passed away, despite the efforts of the officers, medical staff, and paramedics in the ambulance.
But what happened? While Joe was working the inside of the road prison, he walked upon an inmate who had tied a bedsheet around his neck and was attempting suicide. Joe grabbed him at once and tried to remove the sheet. The inmate struggled with him, intent on killing himself. Other officers rushed to Joe’s aid and were able to help the inmate to safety.
As soon as things calmed down and Joe sat down to write his report, he felt an overwhelming pain in his chest, and he collapsed. Almost at once, the officers and medical staff were there. They called for transportation and Joe was whisked away to the emergency room. But it didn’t matter. The heart attack was massive.
A wife, three kids, and seven grandchildren. It hit everyone like a ton of bricks landed on them. Suddenly the rock of the family was gone. Jill had never been a widow before. Now she had to make every decision without her partner of 43 years. Sure, the kids were grown, but they still leaned on their father for guidance and wisdom. And the grandchildren…no more of “Pops,” their fun-loving grandfather’s quick wit and making them feel special, like grandfathers do. Everything was different now.
To everyone at work, Joe was a hardworking man that always had a smile and positive attitude. To his family, he was “Pops” the fun-loving grandfather. Taking care of his family was always his main priority. His seven grandchildren – Jillian, Haley, Vivian “Cake”, Ryleigh, Garvin, Brooke and Lorelei who were his world.
Six days later, the family welcomed the masses that came for the visitation. Sure, they were there for the family and to show support. But there was a part of each one of those who attended that wanted to say goodbye – for themselves. They packed out the small chapel at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South. The next morning, the funeral was held at the Pace Church of Christ with Minister David West and Brother Jimmy Blackman officiating.
Joe’s body was taken back home to Tiplersville Cemetery in the small town of Tiplersville, Mississippi.
[1] Interview with Jill Heddy, April 21, 2023
Prayers for you. I know how hard. Your loss is I met him once. Years ago I am a retired deputy sheriff. God bless you Remember he is safe and happy now and you will see him again
I am a retired. Deputy sheriff and I care. Mike you. Are so wonderful. Thank you
Thank you.